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This page allows you to see all the commentary pages together for this New Testament Gospel Doctrine lesson. Click on the heading to go to a specific page. Click the edit links below to edit text on any pages.


Matt 11:21-25

Home > The New Testament > Matthew > Chapters 11-12
Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 12:30. Mark 12:40 (which says, in essence, that those not against Jesus are on his side) and verse 30 here (which says that those who are not for Jesus are against him) seem like they may be contradictory. But an examination of the context of these two verses indicates that they may be complementary.
One reason we may tend to see the verses as contradictory is because when we say someone is "not for" or "not against" us, we tend to think of people who are more or less neutral. But Jesus in neither case appears to be talking about people who are neutral. In Matthew, the verse comes just before verses where Jesus is talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and just after verses where people were attributing Jesus' miracles to Beelzebub. These people weren't just "not for" Jesus; they were antagonistic to his ministry.
In the story in Mark, however, the people being discussed aren't opposing Jesus. They're healing people in his name, apparently without being given authority to do so. There is no indication in Mark that they are doing this in order to harm Jesus' ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were sincere and may have even believed they were doing the work that Jesus wanted them to do. At the very least, according to Jesus' words, they were people that were doing good things and would soon be unable to speak against Jesus. Again, these people in being "not against" Jesus weren't neutral; at the very least, they were leaning toward Jesus and thus could be counted on his side.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 11:30. In what sense is the Lord's yoke easy?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13

Matt 11:26-30

Home > The New Testament > Matthew > Chapters 11-12
Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 12:30. Mark 12:40 (which says, in essence, that those not against Jesus are on his side) and verse 30 here (which says that those who are not for Jesus are against him) seem like they may be contradictory. But an examination of the context of these two verses indicates that they may be complementary.
One reason we may tend to see the verses as contradictory is because when we say someone is "not for" or "not against" us, we tend to think of people who are more or less neutral. But Jesus in neither case appears to be talking about people who are neutral. In Matthew, the verse comes just before verses where Jesus is talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and just after verses where people were attributing Jesus' miracles to Beelzebub. These people weren't just "not for" Jesus; they were antagonistic to his ministry.
In the story in Mark, however, the people being discussed aren't opposing Jesus. They're healing people in his name, apparently without being given authority to do so. There is no indication in Mark that they are doing this in order to harm Jesus' ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were sincere and may have even believed they were doing the work that Jesus wanted them to do. At the very least, according to Jesus' words, they were people that were doing good things and would soon be unable to speak against Jesus. Again, these people in being "not against" Jesus weren't neutral; at the very least, they were leaning toward Jesus and thus could be counted on his side.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 11:30. In what sense is the Lord's yoke easy?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13

Matt 12:1-5

Home > The New Testament > Matthew > Chapters 11-12
Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 12:30. Mark 12:40 (which says, in essence, that those not against Jesus are on his side) and verse 30 here (which says that those who are not for Jesus are against him) seem like they may be contradictory. But an examination of the context of these two verses indicates that they may be complementary.
One reason we may tend to see the verses as contradictory is because when we say someone is "not for" or "not against" us, we tend to think of people who are more or less neutral. But Jesus in neither case appears to be talking about people who are neutral. In Matthew, the verse comes just before verses where Jesus is talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and just after verses where people were attributing Jesus' miracles to Beelzebub. These people weren't just "not for" Jesus; they were antagonistic to his ministry.
In the story in Mark, however, the people being discussed aren't opposing Jesus. They're healing people in his name, apparently without being given authority to do so. There is no indication in Mark that they are doing this in order to harm Jesus' ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were sincere and may have even believed they were doing the work that Jesus wanted them to do. At the very least, according to Jesus' words, they were people that were doing good things and would soon be unable to speak against Jesus. Again, these people in being "not against" Jesus weren't neutral; at the very least, they were leaning toward Jesus and thus could be counted on his side.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 11:30. In what sense is the Lord's yoke easy?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13

Matt 12:6-10

Home > The New Testament > Matthew > Chapters 11-12
Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 12:30. Mark 12:40 (which says, in essence, that those not against Jesus are on his side) and verse 30 here (which says that those who are not for Jesus are against him) seem like they may be contradictory. But an examination of the context of these two verses indicates that they may be complementary.
One reason we may tend to see the verses as contradictory is because when we say someone is "not for" or "not against" us, we tend to think of people who are more or less neutral. But Jesus in neither case appears to be talking about people who are neutral. In Matthew, the verse comes just before verses where Jesus is talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and just after verses where people were attributing Jesus' miracles to Beelzebub. These people weren't just "not for" Jesus; they were antagonistic to his ministry.
In the story in Mark, however, the people being discussed aren't opposing Jesus. They're healing people in his name, apparently without being given authority to do so. There is no indication in Mark that they are doing this in order to harm Jesus' ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were sincere and may have even believed they were doing the work that Jesus wanted them to do. At the very least, according to Jesus' words, they were people that were doing good things and would soon be unable to speak against Jesus. Again, these people in being "not against" Jesus weren't neutral; at the very least, they were leaning toward Jesus and thus could be counted on his side.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 11:30. In what sense is the Lord's yoke easy?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13

Matt 12:11-15

Home > The New Testament > Matthew > Chapters 11-12
Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 12:30. Mark 12:40 (which says, in essence, that those not against Jesus are on his side) and verse 30 here (which says that those who are not for Jesus are against him) seem like they may be contradictory. But an examination of the context of these two verses indicates that they may be complementary.
One reason we may tend to see the verses as contradictory is because when we say someone is "not for" or "not against" us, we tend to think of people who are more or less neutral. But Jesus in neither case appears to be talking about people who are neutral. In Matthew, the verse comes just before verses where Jesus is talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and just after verses where people were attributing Jesus' miracles to Beelzebub. These people weren't just "not for" Jesus; they were antagonistic to his ministry.
In the story in Mark, however, the people being discussed aren't opposing Jesus. They're healing people in his name, apparently without being given authority to do so. There is no indication in Mark that they are doing this in order to harm Jesus' ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were sincere and may have even believed they were doing the work that Jesus wanted them to do. At the very least, according to Jesus' words, they were people that were doing good things and would soon be unable to speak against Jesus. Again, these people in being "not against" Jesus weren't neutral; at the very least, they were leaning toward Jesus and thus could be counted on his side.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Matt 11:30. In what sense is the Lord's yoke easy?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



Previous page: Chapter 10                      Next page: Chapter 13

Luke 7:36-40

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50

Luke 7:41-45

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50

Luke 7:46-50

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50

Luke 13:6-10

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 9b-19 > Chapters 9b-13 / Verses 9:51-13:35
Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:29: Neighbor. is the English translation of the Greek plesion, the neuter of a derivative of pelas (near).
  • Luke 10:25-37. This is the Good Samaritan story. It is well known as a story of the brotherhood of all mankind and doing good even to someone outside our own sphere.
The early Christians saw this as an allegory of the Plan of Salvation. See the article The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life by John W. Welch in the related links sections.
  • Luke 11:11: Stone. Most modern translations take this "stone" in this verse as a superfluous word due to transcription error. See here for details and various translations. (Cf. Matt 7:9.)
  • Luke 11:12: Egg and scorpion. A possible similarity between an egg and a scorpion being alluded to here is how a scorpion can roll up into a ball that looks like an egg. The pairings in this passage (and in Matt 7:9ff) suggest similar objects where one gives sustenance and the other does not.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 11:9. Many times it seems people pray to be relieved of tribuations and yet tribulations continue. How can this empirical observation be reconciled with this verse?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:25-37. John W. Welch, "The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life," BYU Magazine, Spring 2002. In this article, Welch reviews the writings of early Christian writers such as Origen, who lived in the first half of the the 3rd century. Origen understands the allegory like this:
The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord's body, the pandochium (that is, the stable [inn]), which accepts all [pan-] who wish to enter, is the Church. And further, the two denarii mean the Father and the Son. The manager of the stable is the head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior's second coming.
See a similar article by Welch in the Ensign: "The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols," Feb 2007, pp. 40–47.
  • Luke 12:23. James E. Faust, "Spiritual Nutrients," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 53–55. Elder Faust said: "Human beings...need to be replenished spiritually. The human spirit needs love. It also needs to be 'nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine' (1 Tim 4:6)."

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19

Luke 13:11-15

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 9b-19 > Chapters 9b-13 / Verses 9:51-13:35
Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:29: Neighbor. is the English translation of the Greek plesion, the neuter of a derivative of pelas (near).
  • Luke 10:25-37. This is the Good Samaritan story. It is well known as a story of the brotherhood of all mankind and doing good even to someone outside our own sphere.
The early Christians saw this as an allegory of the Plan of Salvation. See the article The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life by John W. Welch in the related links sections.
  • Luke 11:11: Stone. Most modern translations take this "stone" in this verse as a superfluous word due to transcription error. See here for details and various translations. (Cf. Matt 7:9.)
  • Luke 11:12: Egg and scorpion. A possible similarity between an egg and a scorpion being alluded to here is how a scorpion can roll up into a ball that looks like an egg. The pairings in this passage (and in Matt 7:9ff) suggest similar objects where one gives sustenance and the other does not.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 11:9. Many times it seems people pray to be relieved of tribuations and yet tribulations continue. How can this empirical observation be reconciled with this verse?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:25-37. John W. Welch, "The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life," BYU Magazine, Spring 2002. In this article, Welch reviews the writings of early Christian writers such as Origen, who lived in the first half of the the 3rd century. Origen understands the allegory like this:
The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord's body, the pandochium (that is, the stable [inn]), which accepts all [pan-] who wish to enter, is the Church. And further, the two denarii mean the Father and the Son. The manager of the stable is the head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior's second coming.
See a similar article by Welch in the Ensign: "The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols," Feb 2007, pp. 40–47.
  • Luke 12:23. James E. Faust, "Spiritual Nutrients," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 53–55. Elder Faust said: "Human beings...need to be replenished spiritually. The human spirit needs love. It also needs to be 'nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine' (1 Tim 4:6)."

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19

Luke 13:16-20

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 9b-19 > Chapters 9b-13 / Verses 9:51-13:35
Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:29: Neighbor. is the English translation of the Greek plesion, the neuter of a derivative of pelas (near).
  • Luke 10:25-37. This is the Good Samaritan story. It is well known as a story of the brotherhood of all mankind and doing good even to someone outside our own sphere.
The early Christians saw this as an allegory of the Plan of Salvation. See the article The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life by John W. Welch in the related links sections.
  • Luke 11:11: Stone. Most modern translations take this "stone" in this verse as a superfluous word due to transcription error. See here for details and various translations. (Cf. Matt 7:9.)
  • Luke 11:12: Egg and scorpion. A possible similarity between an egg and a scorpion being alluded to here is how a scorpion can roll up into a ball that looks like an egg. The pairings in this passage (and in Matt 7:9ff) suggest similar objects where one gives sustenance and the other does not.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 11:9. Many times it seems people pray to be relieved of tribuations and yet tribulations continue. How can this empirical observation be reconciled with this verse?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 10:25-37. John W. Welch, "The Good Samaritan and Eternal Life," BYU Magazine, Spring 2002. In this article, Welch reviews the writings of early Christian writers such as Origen, who lived in the first half of the the 3rd century. Origen understands the allegory like this:
The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord's body, the pandochium (that is, the stable [inn]), which accepts all [pan-] who wish to enter, is the Church. And further, the two denarii mean the Father and the Son. The manager of the stable is the head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior's second coming.
See a similar article by Welch in the Ensign: "The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols," Feb 2007, pp. 40–47.
  • Luke 12:23. James E. Faust, "Spiritual Nutrients," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 53–55. Elder Faust said: "Human beings...need to be replenished spiritually. The human spirit needs love. It also needs to be 'nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine' (1 Tim 4:6)."

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Chapters 9b-19                      Chapters 14-19

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